Jury acquits man of assault charge

Published: Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 05:44 PM.

GRAHAM — A jury deliberated 20 minutes Wednesday before acquitting a Burlington man of assaulting a woman with a butcher knife in a May 2010 incident.

Burlington police charged Maurice Turner, 37, of Hester Road, Burlington, with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury in August 2011. The incident allegedly occurred on May 15, 2010, and involved an argument and fight with Lakeeta Ashburn, warrants said.

She testified that Turner attacked her and cut her leg with a butcher knife.

During the trial, which began Tuesday in Alamance County Superior Court, Turner argued that he defended himself against Ashburn.

Defense attorney Jeff Connolly said that the two had been drinking that night. When an argument began, Ashburn allegedly grabbed the knife from the kitchen and charged toward Turner, who fought her off in self-defense.

A struggle ensued and the pair fell on a glass-top table, shattering it. Ashburn cut her leg on the table, Connolly said.

Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury is a Class F felony. If found guilty, Turner faced a minimum of 13 months in prison under standard sentencing guidelines.

GRAHAM — A jury deliberated 20 minutes Wednesday before acquitting a Burlington man of assaulting a woman with a butcher knife in a May 2010 incident.

Burlington police charged Maurice Turner, 37, of Hester Road, Burlington, with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury in August 2011. The incident allegedly occurred on May 15, 2010, and involved an argument and fight with Lakeeta Ashburn, warrants said.

She testified that Turner attacked her and cut her leg with a butcher knife.

During the trial, which began Tuesday in Alamance County Superior Court, Turner argued that he defended himself against Ashburn.

Defense attorney Jeff Connolly said that the two had been drinking that night. When an argument began, Ashburn allegedly grabbed the knife from the kitchen and charged toward Turner, who fought her off in self-defense.

A struggle ensued and the pair fell on a glass-top table, shattering it. Ashburn cut her leg on the table, Connolly said.

Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury is a Class F felony. If found guilty, Turner faced a minimum of 13 months in prison under standard sentencing guidelines.

Jurors got the case at 10:55 Wednesday morning and returned to the courtroom with the verdict at 11:15 a.m.

Turner wiped away tears after the verdict was read and thanked Connolly for his work in the case.